internal debate - sunshine plecos

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Charney

Charney

The Fish Doctor
Staff member
Moderator
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2005
3,702
741
150
42
Somerville NJ
So I have been beating myself up with internal debate and want to see what peoples thoughts are. I have always loved the sunshine plecos and always wanted to get some. Every year I decided not to get any. It always seems the next year they are harder to come by and more expensive. This year I decided I will get a small group of smaller ones. I can't find any and no one can get them for me locally at a small size. I can get 6 inches at a fairly decent price. Should I shell out a couple hundred and just buy three of the six inchers and grow the out? I would like to attempt to breed them eventually. They might not be on the suppliers list for long so I need to act soon or I might miss them. Or should I wait it out and hope some smaller ones may come around and pick up three smaller ones and save some money IF it works out?
 
Personally, I would get 1 or 2 of the 6 inchers, just to make sure they would be ok with my water conditions (not sure if your water is exceedingly hard and you don't have R/O etc). The advantage with the slightly larger fish is that hopefully they are hardier, especially if they've been in your LFS for some time. I would worry about getting a batch of small sunshines that may be more sensitive to bad transport and that would be stressed out.

What ever you decide, sooner is probably better than later in that the dry season in the Amazon is ending. The people who catch fish catch the plecos in the summer (for north america) at the low water levels when they are more concentrated in pools (makes for easier collecting).

One other thought- what about coming to the Catfish Convention (http://www.catfishcon.com/) that takes place next October? You can contact the vendors who are coming to the convention and see if any of them are bringing sunnies (http://www.catfishcon.com/vendors.php) and the speakers who may be bringing fish (http://www.catfishcon.com/speakers.php); maybe you can get a deal by saving on shipping?
 
Thank you for the input. Unfortunately I can't take off for the convention. I am leaning towards the trio. Can they be accurately sexed at five to six inches?


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I don't know. I presume you've seen this?
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanes...cle_id=460&title=Making+Sunshine+in+Indonesia

The next question is how to differentiate between the males and the females (See Picture 1). Males have more squared heads, slimmer body and more odontotes on their pectoral fins. (Picture 2). The females have sharper head shape and fuller body looks with rather smooth pectoral fins.

(The general advice for sexing is to look at all of the fish together, and pick out the ones that look the most different)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom